50th Annual RockyGrass Program

howdy

Festivarians!

Welcome to the center of the bluegrass universe.

We can barely believe it’s been 50 years since Bill Monroe’s dream of a bluegrass festival in Colorado was realized. What began as a small gathering in Brighton at the Adams County Fairground has shifted, morphed, and grown into something historic. Somewhere core memories are made, acoustic instruments are larger than life, and ancient tones reverberate alongside the swift current of the St. Vrain River.

Generations of pickers from around the world plan their year around this magnificent bluegrass homecoming. And yet, a festival with 50 years of history is only able to achieve such a milestone because of the community surrounding it. Through flood, fire, and pandemic, we became rooted, together, in RockyGrass. Like honey bees returning to the hive, we’ve been buzzing with anticipation for the opportunity to celebrate what we’ve built together.

So settle in, sweet honey bees. We’re so glad you chose to be here. Begin your days with

early morning yoga, stop by the contests and workshops in the Wildflower Pavilion, fill your bottle with free filtered water, and harmonize with your fellow Festivarians. Take some photos at the 50th anniversary tent photo booth while you’re at it, you’ll want to remember this.

To the next 50 years,

The Folks on Planet Bluegrass

Festival Partners

july 29th through 31st

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RULES & GUIDELINES First thing’s first, feel free to sit on any open tarp (especially up front) until its owners return. Make a few friends and do some dancing, that’s what we’re all here for!

Some reminders while we have you here: • Tarps may be no larger than 10’ x 10’. We will be checking!

• Climbing the hillsides and cliffs is strictly prohibited.

• There is no lifeguard watching your kids in the river. Be sure to monitor your children carefully!

• Sunshades and high-back chairs are only allowed in designated areas. All high-back chairs must be behind the sound booth. If we can roll a basketball under your chair, we will ask you to move it behind the sound booth. We really will! Theo brings a basketball for this exact purpose. He really looks forward to it every year.

• Umbrellas, shade tents, and other view-obstructing items are allowed only along the river and back perimeter of the festival grounds.

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS—do not stand in the festival seating areas, and do not smoke in the audience! Instead, wander over to the smoking tent near the river, and deposit your butts in the proper receptacles. Sustainable Festivation, ya know?

Lost and Found is located at the Main Festival Box Office.

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Tarp Line Policy Festivarians may begin assembling for the next day’s line numbers along the pedestrian walkway outside of the Main Box Office no earlier than 11pm.

At around midnight, the number line will be led through the customs gate, where we will distribute random numbers and mark wristbands to show receipt of a number. These numbers will be shuffled randomly.

Each person may receive no more than one number.

The next morning, Festivarians should re-assemble in line number order beginning one hour before gates.

Festivarians will be admitted into the festival in this randomly-assigned order, followed by all Festivarians without line numbers.

RockyGrass Through The Years

In 1972, while Woodward and Bernstein chased the Watergate scandal, Big Mon himself had been plotting. A bluegrass festival in Colorado – why not? A perfect place to stop while heading west.

As “The Princess Bride” hit shelves in local bookstores, Bill Monroe was soliciting assistance from members of the newly formed Colorado Bluegrass Music Society. If they could cover the production and local talent, he would handle the headliner spot. A deal was struck. They put Lynn Morris, Texas native and banjo wiz, to work. It’s likely the number one song of the year, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” played in her head as she put the finishing touches on the drawing that would become the poster for the First Annual Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival. All the while, they had no idea the seed they were planting would travel and grow until, in 1992, it landed at home and settled on the Planet Bluegrass Ranch.

1st Annual

4th Annual

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

2nd Annual

3rd Annual

5th Annual

6th Annual

7th Annual

14th Annual

26th Annual

43rd Annual

8th Annual

15th Annual

33rd Annual

44th Annual

12th Annual

13th Annual

16th Annual

24th Annual

34th Annual

40th Annual

46th Annual

49th Annual

july 29th through 31st

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libations Beers

Craft Lager 4.8% ABV

Rocky Mountain Kölsch 5% ABV

West Coast Style IPA 6.5% ABV

Citra Pale Ale

SELTZERS

Spiked Snowmelt: Tangerine & Hops

Gluten free. 100 calories.

5% ABV

COCKTAILS

Vodka Lemonade Citrus Tonic with Spirit Hound Gin or Vodka

Ginger Lime Shrub

Spiked Snowmelt Electrolyte Series: Peach Lemonade

with Spirit Hound Vodka or Gin

Gluten free. 105 calories.

5% ABV

Coyote Gold Margaritas

5.8% ABV

WINE

CIDER Real Dry

Yolo County Chardonnay

6.8% ABV

Paso Robles Sangiovese

Paloma

Clarksburg Pinot Noir

5.0% ABV

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Chiles Valley/Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Rose of Pinot Noir

Good news, Festivarians! With over 70 primary care, specialty, and urgent care physicians, we offer top-quality, head-to-toe health care in 5 Boulder County locations.

Meet our new doctors:

Felicia Longenecker, MD Internal Medicine

Emily Reznicek, MD Family Medicine

Allen Ruan, MD Pediatrics

Find a Physician that’s right for you. bouldermedicalcenter.com/planet

Teuta Shemshedini, MD OB-GYN

family tent Most activities are free, but we ask that parents please accompany their kids at all times.

Come find the Family Tent along the river behind the Wildflower Pavilion!

While you’re over there, check out the Instrument Petting Zoo (courtesy of HB Woodsongs). This is a place for kids and their parents to discover, strum,

and play a variety of instruments. HB Woodsongs’ knowledgeable staff of instrument zookeepers provide the instruments, you provide the curiosity. Open 11-4.

join us for an hour of yoga each morning!

Friday at 8:30am, Saturday at 7:30am, and Sunday at 7:30am

Colorado-Made Gifts for all seasons n’ reasons & all ages n’ wages

WE LOVE OUR PLANET! C’MON DOWN TO

160 Main Street in Lyons 303-747-3818

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Beer Food Music Thursday

MainGrass Ryan Dart Duo Lucy Moore Sugar Moon Curated Live Bluegrass - Different Lineup Every Week 6-9pm

Friday

Americana Songwriter - 4-7pm

Saturday

With Josh Elioseff & Friends | 6-8pm

Sunday

All Female Original & Traditional Bluegrass | 4-7pm

MainStage Brewing is located at 450 Main Street in Lyons, just a few steps from Planet Bluegrass. Open since May of 2021, MainStage is known for its large outdoor patio, fantastic selection of craft beers, phenomenal pizza, and of course, tons of Live Music including our Thursday Night MainGrass shows.

The creation of Emma Rose (big richard, sound of honey) and MainStage, each week MainGrass brings together a fresh lineup of the best local bluegrass musicians to play, improvise, and have fun. Learn more at MainStageBrewing.com/MainGrass The kitchen at MainStage is open for breakfast just for the festival!

Since we specialize in New York thn crust pizza by the slice, we have added breakfast pizza rolls to our menu for the festival weekend.

Swing on in and grab one to-go, or stay for a pint or two!

MainStage Festival Weekend Hours: Thursday 12-10pm | Friday - Sunday 9am - 10pm All Events All Ages & Open To Public 450 Main St. Lyons, CO 80540

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Clean Campsite Challenge

With more than 2,000 campers in Lyons this weekend, (doubling the size of our town!), it’s critical that we remain mindful of our camping footprint. In collaboration with Leave No Trace, Mountainsmith, and Eco-Products (the supplier of the free compostable bags for your campground compost), we will be rewarding campsites that excel in creative, sustainable camping.

To nominate your campsite or one of your neighbors, submit an entry form at the Mountainsmith Booth explaining how the campsite exhibits cleanliness, sustainability, and creativity. Stop by the Mountainsmith booth each day to view the campsite entries and vote for your favorites!

We will select 2 winners per day–one random, and one staff choice. Prize packages will include gear from Mountainsmith, Klean Kanteen, Upslope, Canyon, and other goodies from our partners.

After the pack-out on Monday we will select grand prize winners to receive a pair of 3-day passes and camping for the 2023 RockyGrass. Typically we stop there, but this year we really wanted to do it up, so Mountainsmith tossed in a surprise camping package. They assured us they would go wild. Those winners are gonna be lucky ducks, no question.

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Explore the Magic Beyond the Planet

Visit Lyons any day of the week, every day of the year. @lyonscolorado

lyonscolorado.com july 29th through 31st

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music competitions Since the first Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival, the band and instrument contests have been a beloved part of the festival experience. Past finalists have included Mark O’Connor (1974), and Tim O’Brien (1975). You can catch 2001 band winners Steep Canyon Rangers on the Main Stage on Saturday! Discover the next generation of musicians as they vie for new instruments, cash prizes, spots on the Main Stage, and of course the clout that comes with winning one of these prestigious contests.

Instrument Competitions Each instrument contestant performs two tunes in the preliminary round. The top three on each instrument advance to the final round where they perform two different songs. Musicians are judged “in the blind” using the following criteria:

prizes

1st Prize: Instrument

50% OVERALL ABILITY 25% RHYTHM 25% TONE

mandolin 2nd Prize: $100

3rd Prize: $50

1st Prize: $1,000 Prelims: Friday, 2:30pm, Wildflower Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage

fiddle

banjo 1st Prize: Deering John Hartford Banjo Prelims: Friday, 11:30am, Wildflower Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage

1st Prize: Thomas Verdot Paragon Fiddle Prelims: Friday, 4:00pm, Wildflower Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage

flatpick guitar

dobro

1st Prize: Preston Thompson D-MA Guitar Prelims: Friday, 1:00pm, Wildflower Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage

1st Prize: $1,000 Prelims: Friday, 5:30pm, Wildflower Finals: Saturday, 9:45am, Main Stage

Band Competition

Cheer on these aspiring young bands while they gather (as the Blue Grass Boys intended) around a single microphone and compete for a spot on the 2023 RockyGrass lineup.

schedule

band competition prizes

Prelims: Saturday, 1:30pm, Wildflower

1st Prize: $750 & 2023 RockyGrass main stage performance 2nd Prize: $500 3rd Prize: $300

Finals:

Sunday, 1:30pm, Wildflower

2021 Band Contest Winners The Wildmans

GRAND OPENING JULY 28TH 5PM -10PM MUSIC BY

DECHEN HAWK

FOOD BY

FARM EATS DIRECT

DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

main stage schedule fridayth

saturday th

sunday st

10:00am Gates Open

9:00am Gates Open

9:00am Gates Open

11:00 - Noon The Wildmans

9:45 - 11:15 Instrument Contest Finals

9:30 - 10:30 The Old Gospel Ship

july 29

july 30

12:15 - 1:30 Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley

11:30 - 12:30 Big Richard

1:45 - 3:00 Hawktail

12:45 - 1:45 Tray Wellington Band

3:30 - 4:45 Becky Buller Band

2:00 - 3:15 Claire Lynch Band

5:15 - 6:30 Darrell Scott Bluegrass Band

3:45 - 5:00 Kruger Brothers

7:00 - 8:30 Punch Brothers 9:00 - 10:30 Yonder Mountain String Band

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5:30 - 6:45 Steep Canyon Rangers 7:15 - 8:30 Del McCoury Band 9:00 - 10:30 Sam Bush Bluegrass Band

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

july 31

Featuring Greg Blake & KC Groves

10:45 - 11:45 Jake Blount & Tatiana Hargreaves Noon - 1:15 We Banjo 3 1:30 - 2:45 Uncommon Ritual 3:15 - 4:30 Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band 5:00 - 6:15 Uncle Earl 6:45 - 8:00 The Earls of Leicester 8:30 - 10:00 Hot Rize

wildflower pavilion fridayth

saturday th

sunday st

11:30am Banjo Contest Preliminary Round

Noon TBD

Noon Jam with Pete & Joan Wernick

july 29

1:00pm Guitar Contest Preliminary Round 2:30pm Mandolin Contest Preliminary Round 4:00pm Fiddle Contest Preliminary Round 5:30pm Dobro Contest Preliminary Round

july 30

1:30pm Band Contest Preliminary Round 3:15pm Panel: Rockygrass A 50 Year Retrospective 5:00pm Banjo Workshop with Ned Luberecki, Tray Wellington, Wes Corbett

july 31

Bring Your Instrument!

(Slow tempos, only G, C, D & A chords)

1:30pm Band Contest Finals 2:45pm We Banjo 3 Connecting Celtic and Bluegrass 4:15pm Jake Leg

july 29th through 31st

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Rocky Grass

THE WILDMANS

_________________

Friday 11:00-Noon

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY _________________

Friday 12:15-1:30

HAWKTAIL

_________________

Friday 1:45-3:00

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Artists

It’s pretty prestigious to be the first band booked for the 50th annual RockyGrass, don’t you think? We’re so pleased that we were able to offer this spot to The Wildmans, who blew us away during the Band Competition last year. The trio of Berklee College of Music students from Floyd, VA, consisting of Eli Wildman, Aila Wildman, and Victor Furtado (no relation to Tony) has been sweeping band and instrument contests across the US, leaving a

path of first place ribbons and enthusiastic fans in their wake.

And you’ll understand why as soon as they start up their first song. The band pays homage to the musical roots of their region while simultaneously focusing on the future with inspiring modern covers and well-crafted original songwriting. Settle in, Festivarians.

The 50th Annual RockyGrass is about to begin. There’s certainly no turning back now!

They slide, they shred, they rock and swing and – jeez – there’s only two of them?! Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley are so far beyond the sum of their parts that physicists remain confounded. The duo brings together the talents of 15-time IBMA Dobro Player of the Year Ikes with prodigy singer and acoustic guitar demi-god Hensley in a matchup that blends bluegrass, country, blues, and Americana. Hensley debuted on the Grand Ole Opry at age 11 with Earl

Scruggs and Marty Stuart. As he grew into adulthood, his voice settled into a smooth, chart-ready baritone. Elder partner Ikes arrived in Nashville in the early 90s and quickly established himself as a studio session player for heavies like Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and Alison Krauss. On top of that, he co-founded the influential group Blue Highway.

Talk about an overachiever! Stabilize your lawn chair folks, this will be quite a ride.

Friends for ten years before they formed a band, Brittany Haas (fiddle), Paul Kowert (bass), Jordan Tice (guitar), and Dominick Leslie (mandolin) were inspired to use the name Hawktail because of its similarity to the acronym of their last names. They last joined us on the Main Stage in September of 2021, and boy are we glad they’re back so soon! Their gorgeous 2018 debut Unless features artfully developed old-timey melodies with Scandinavian twists gracefully passed between

instruments. 2020’s Formations was a polished masterpiece, with musical compilations that conveyed more without words than many do with. Their Junior album Place of Growth is available to pre-order now.

After hearing the first two, it’s hard to imagine it will be anything short of phenomenal. “I’d be lying,” says Paul, “if I said I didn’t imagine this music coruscating over these grounds and bouncing off that rock cliff as we wrote it.”

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

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Rocky Grass

BECKY BULLER BAND _________________

Friday 3:30-4:45

DARRELL SCOTT

BLUEGRASS BAND

_________________

Friday 5:15-6:30

PUNCH BROTHERS

_________________

Friday 7:00-8:30

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Artists

This fiery-haired Minnesotan exudes enthusiasm. Whether fiddling, singing or songwriting, Becky’s having a blast. We first heard her as the hot fiddler with Valerie Smith and Liberty Pike but in the ensuing years Buller has taken her place on the vanguard of millennial bluegrassers.

She walked away in 2016 with both the IBMA Fiddler of the Year and Female Vocalist awards – the first time anyone had won in two categories. Becky has burned up

the miles touring with her band, but she knows how to keep it light.

If you haven’t seen her spoof “We Will Grass You” with Brian May, this is your sign to look it up right now.

Buller’s songwriting skills have captured the industry’s attention.

Her compositions have been covered

by Ricky Skaggs, the Infamous Stringdusters, Rhonda Vincent, and Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. If you have a chance, be sure to ask her why she collects broken accordions.

Music pours out of Darrell Scott. A whole-hearted songwriter and jaw dropping multi instrumentalist, he moves fluidly from piano to plucking or sliding on anything with strings. A frequent staple at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, the Kentucky native debuted at the ‘99 RockyGrass sharing duets with Tim O’Brien. Since then, he has released 13 albums worthy to be one of the 10 belongings you’d bring with you as a contestant on Alone (did you

binge the most recent season like we did?). Scott has penned celebratory anthems like “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Long Time Gone,” and Lyons-referencing “Colorado.” We are so pleased to welcome him back to RockyGrass with his bluegrass bandmates: the gifted Matt Flinner on mandolin and banjo, fan favorite Shad Cobb on fiddle, and the lovely Bryn Davies rounding them all out on bass. Darrell’s wife Angela is also here. She’s the best. Hi Angela!

Is it blasphemy if we don’t begin this bio with a cheerful and boisterous ahoy? It certainly is.

AHOY festivarians! It’s punch time, which is arguably our favorite time.

The group’s new album, Hell on Church Street, is a mind-boggling reimagining of Tony Rice’s landmark solo album Church Street Blues.

Punch generates a heady mix of temporal and harmonic extensions.

Huddled around one mic, Chris Thile wrestles his mandolin as if it

were the tail of a giant serpent; banjoist Noam Pikelny looks into the middle-distance dashing off 16th notes; fiddler Gabe Witcher leans in and out at precisely the right moments; guitarist Critter Eldridge strums complex rhythms with ease, and bassist Paul Kowert keeps the proceedings ticking along. Sit back and take it all in. Punch Brothers might play traditional bluegrass instruments but they’re working at a transcendent musical level. Ahoy, indeed!

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

july 29th through 31st

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Rocky Grass

YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND _________________ Friday 9:00-10:30

BIG RICHARD

_________________

saturday 11:30-12:30

TRAY WELLINGTON BAND _________________ saturday 12:45-1:45

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Artists

For nearly a quarter century, Yonder album, Get Yourself Outside this past Mountain String Band has been February. It is their first to feature redefining bluegrass music. From multi instrumentalist and all-around Mabon shows in the Wildflower really cool guy Nick Piccininni. Not Pavilion to surprise RockyGrass only does he play the mandolin like sets, Kinfolk celebrations to chilly his life depends on it, but he’s also SpringGrass evening jams, they have been known to bust out and shred on reserved a special place in our hearts the banjo, fiddle, and, now that we and found a lifelong home on Planet think about it, pretty much anything Bluegrass. With Adam Aijala on else with strings. This quintessential guitar, Ben Kaufmann on bass, Dave ensemble has been working hard, Johnston on banjo, and Allie Kral on honing their craft, and is sounding fiddle, they released their 9th studio better than ever.

What exactly is Bluegrass with a side of lady rage? We had the same question, and we were pleasantly surprised by how many three-part harmonies were involved (also jokes about a certain appendage, but we’ll let them fill you in on that front). Front Range-based Big Richard is riding the high off of an explosive Telluride debut, and they’re just finding their pace. What started as a lighthearted festival collaboration with Bonnie Sims on mandolin, Eve Panning on

fiddle, Joy Adams on cello, and Emma Rose on bass, has morphed into a full on passion project with no end in sight.

Whether singing a cover or belting an original, these four imbue everything they do with a sense of wonder and exuberance that is refreshing to watch.

Big Richard has plans for a national tour on the horizon. Count yourself as lucky that you got to see them way back when... but don’t take our word for it- come experience it for yourself!

We know you want to.

Winner of the 2019 IBMA Momentum Band of the Year (with Cane Mill Road), and Momentum Instrumentalist of the year, you’d think Tray Wellington was ready for a break. On the contrary, he’s just getting started. Growing up in North Carolina, it seems he was destined to fall in love with music.

He began his musical career with an electric guitar at age 13 and followed the path towards flatpicking, which led him to the banjo. His full length debut, Black Banjo, which shines a

spotlight on his own compositions, was released just over two months ago to soaring praise. He says in the album’s liner notes, “Thank you to the black artists in roots music and beyond that have laid the groundwork so people like me can know that the possibilities are endless; I can achieve my dreams in any music I perceive and push my boundaries to where I want to be.” We are so grateful he’s bringing his expertise and energy for his first RockyGrass performance!

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Rocky Grass

CLAIRE LYNCH BAND

_________________

saturday 2:00-3:15

KRUGER BROTHERS

_________________

saturday 3:45-5:00

STEEP CANYON RANGERS _________________ saturday 5:30-6:45

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Artists

We first heard Claire’s angelic voice with the Front Porch String Band.

Her inspired version of “Wabash Cannonball” caused one to sit down forthwith and tell everyone nearby to shut up and listen. And so began a storied musical career that put Claire at the forefront of modern bluegrass as a singer, band leader and songwriter. Claire is a three-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and she’s collaborated on recordings with Jesse Winchester, Jonathan Edwards, John

Starling, Donna the Buffalo, Infamous Stringdusters and the Gibson Brothers.

Her song, “Little Sister,” co-written with Louisa Branscomb, won the 2013 IBMA Song of the Year. But Claire is about much more than laurels. There’s a soulfulness and surety about her music that’s stayed consistent through the years. Her lyrics and melodies will transport you to the past, the future, and somewhere in-between that always lands right in your solar plexus.

“You have to play your music. Play it clean, play it powerful, play it with commitment.” Such was Bill Monroe’s advice for Swiss-born banjo virtuoso Jens Kruger. After years spent mastering bluegrass music while busking around Europe with his brother Uwe (“Oo’-vay”), Jens began the discovery of his own music: a natural born fusion between American bluegrass and European classical. Their body of work ever expanding, they are led

by Uwe’s guitar and baritone voice, Jen’s remarkable banjo, and rooted

by Joel Landsberg’s powerful bass.

It is with remarkable discipline and creativity that they are able to infuse classical into folk. The results are a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music. Together, the trio creates delightfully fresh music which continues to inspire and enlighten audiences and musicians around the world.

Can you imagine these professionals as a gang of hopeful undergraduates, bespectacled, bucket-hatted, and shell-necklaced to the nines? We remember it like it was yesterday.

It’s with great pride that we reflect on the meteoric rise of the Rangers: beginning with their 2001 RockyGrass band contest win, followed by IBMA awards, Grammys, and even a collaboration with Boyz II Men along the road. Today, they stand before you an accomplished

group of bluegrass veterans: guitarist and lead vocalist Woody Platt, mandolinist Mike Guggino, banjoist Graham Sharp, fiddler Nicky Sanders, bassist Barrett Smith, and drummer Mike Ashworth. International tours?

Check. Prestigious awards? You betcha. Three albums in 2020?

Somehow, they’ve pulled it off. All the while managing to proliferate the traditional bluegrass repertoire while turning it on its head and pushing the envelope. Talk about talent.

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

In Loving Memory Griffin Charles Ferguson, fondly referred to as “Griff,” passed away on May 26th, 2022 in a motorcycle accident. Griffin was a beloved son, brother, friend, protector, and professional firefighter dedicated to serving his community.

Griffin had a special affinity and love for animals of all kinds. As a child he could often be found cuddling and caring for cats, dogs, chickens, and any critter that seemed in need of a helping hand. Griffin worked at the Planet Bluegrass Farm, caring for the horses, alpaca, and ducks that made their home there. He was inseparable from his hunting dog and best friend Ranger, whom he trained diligently.

Through his passion for hunting and dedication to conservation, Griffin sought the silence and tranquility of places people seldom traveled: the

remote Bush of Alaska, the idyllic Sandhills of Nebraska, and the peaceful blue waters of Dome Lake in Wyoming. These landscapes shaped him from boyhood, and left a lasting impact that he carried with him through his life.

Griffin loved fiercely, intensely, and without question. He was quick with a quip, swift to support his family and friends, and even faster with his request that you please rub his back since you’re already sitting right there. We were lucky to have him and love him. We miss him every day.

Rocky Grass

DEL MCCOURY BAND _________________

saturday 7:15-8:30

SAM BUSH BLUEGRASS BAND _________________ saturday 9:00-10:30

THE OLD GOSPEL SHIP FEATURING GREG BLAKE

& KC GROVES _________________

sunday 9:30-10:30

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Artists

The hair, the suit, the voice – and most of all, the smile. Del has been grinning at audiences for more than 60 years. And why not? He’s a bluegrass legend still delivering his signature high-octane sound to fans far and wide. The Del McCoury Band is really a family thing, with sons Ronnie on mandolin and Robbie on banjo. Add the incomparable Jason Carter on fiddle and the eversteady Alan Bartram on bass and you’ve got perfection. But Del is

a humble guy. He takes constant requests from the crowd and laughs at himself while singing favorites in his piercing tenor. You’ll be sure to hear Vincent Black Lightning, a fan favorite. Bill Monroe taught Del bluegrass. Over the years, Del’s open ear has led him to collaborations with David Grisman, Steve Earle, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Phish, Dierks Bentley and Vince Gill. Along the way he’s won two Grammys, and our everlasting gratitude.

If joy was a person, they would carry themselves with the grace of Sam Bush on the Planet Bluegrass stage.

Eyes closed, wire-rim glasses in place, and mandolin pushed against his ribs, the Kentucky born prodigy has been bringing joy to stages and stereos alike for over four decades.

“The joy of the music comes to me and overtakes me sometimes,” says Sam. “I just become part of the music.” As the co-founder of seminal progressive bluegrass outfit New Grass Revival,

and an in-demand collaborator with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Lyle Lovett, his pocket-defining chomp, shimmering full-arm tremolo, and cascading single-note improvisations incorporate all that came before even as they keep a keen ear toward what is yet to come. Sam is joined by Stephen Mougin on guitar, Wes Corbett on banjo, Todd Parks on bass, and Chris Brown on percussion.

They’re the real pros here, so we’ll let them take it from here.

We’ve gathered along the St. Vrain spirits,” says KC. And lift our spirits this morning to rejoice in the they will. While Bill Monroe famously RockyGrass gospel. For decades told us not to dance to the gospel, we these musical sermons have taken feel confident even Big Mon himself inspiration from pages of our good might make an exception when KC book. We are pleased to welcome The Groves (guitar), Greg Blake (guitar), Old Gospel Ship, a locally sourced Dylan McCarthy (mandolin), Erin & sextet of heavy-hitting bluegrass Aaron Youngberg (bass, banjo), and lovers, as they invite us to their gospel Natalie Padilla (fiddle) take the stage. sanctuary to celebrate our common Be sure to tune in (to the KGNU stream human spirit. “Gathering at the river if you can’t make it in person!), and is really our theme this year… simply find your place within the harmony of joining hearts and lifting each other’s their strings and voices.

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

For constantly exploring ways to run an earth-friendly, sustainable, large group festival.

For contributing directly and indirectly to enhancing our local economy.

For positively impacting the social and cultural fabric of the Lyons community.

For enduring, persevering, and keeping Planet Bluegrass alive despite being totally inundated by a historic flood in 2013.

For welcoming us and so many others to be part of the Planet Bluegrass Family.

For making it possible for so many “festivarians,” artists, staff, and volunteers to create amazing and lifelong friendships, experiences, and memories.

May you find strength and contentment knowing that no matter what life throws your way, that you and your many partners have and continue to bring great joy to our little world.

With love,

Jonelle and Dean Tucker

Top 100 things to do when selling your home (or buying a new one)…

Step 1 – Call us (We’ll take care of the other 99)

Jonelle Tucker

303-902-6250 Jonelle.tucker@gmail.com tuckergroupinc.com

Rocky Grass

JAKE BLOUNT & TATIANA HARGREAVES _________________ sunday 10:45-11:45

WE BANJO 3

_________________

sunday Noon-1:15

UNCOMMON RITUAL

_________________

sunday 1:30-2:45

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Artists

After years of playing together at festivals and camps, Jake Blount and Tatiana Hargreaves finally collaborated on Blount’s 2020 debut album Spider Tales. The pairing itself makes perfect sense. Hargreaves, a fiddler who has toured with musicians such as Dave Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and Laurie Lewis, has been on the forefront of an up and coming generation of old time, bluegrass, and new acoustic musicians. Blount, 2020 recipient of the Steve Martin

Banjo Prize and proficient performer (in multiple styles) has studied with modern masters of old-time music including Bruce Molsky, Rhiannon Giddens, and Hubby Jenkins. Put the two together and you have an impressively decorated duo with a youthful spin, perfect timing, and the combined talent to blow the watermelon hat right off that one guy. You know, the guy you see always wearing a watermelon hat? Yeah, that guy.

A band for more than ten years now, Galway-based We Banjo 3 are brothers at heart. Like biologically, though! Made up of brothers David & Martin Howley and Enda & Fergal Scahill, We Banjo 3 is a propulsive blend of Irish and Americana that you can’t help but hop up and move to. This is a straddling act that few dare attempt and even fewer accomplish successfully. Seamlessly blending the best of both genres, “[We Banjo 3] is much bigger than the sum of its parts,” says Enda. “The familiarity,

ease, and respect we have for each other is embodied in our music, and so communicated to the audience.”

And Enda hits the nail right on the head, as the mutual admiration they share is easily recognizable by anyone watching the quartet perform. Their new album Open The Road, written and conceptualized during lockdown, dropped on July 15th. Grab your own copy at the Country Store. If you catch them there after their set they might even sign it for you!

Wait, what year is it again? By the power of Saint Festivaria, have we been sucked back to the nineties?!

That wily gal, she’s always up to something. She must have known it’s not a proper RockyGrass celebration without Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Mike Marshall. More than twenty years after its release, these visceral virtuosos are here to beguile you with tunes from their 1997 collaborative album, Uncommon Ritual. It’s not quite bluegrass, but you also couldn’t

consider it jazz, folk, or classical either.

Typical of these musical masters, it’s better than all the above combined.

Béla is the Paganini of banjo, regularly delivering the impossible. Edgar is much the same, but his violin is six feet tall, an instrument he plays effortlessly with bow or finger. Mike Marshall’s hands are so huge they make a mandolin look like a toy but somehow he glides through every register with aplomb. How do they do it?! Best not to even ask, just listen.

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Rocky Grass

PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND _________________ sunday 3:15-4:30

UNCLE EARL

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sunday 5:00-6:15

THE EARLS OF LEICESTER _________________ sunday 6:45-8:00

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Artists

Few carry the mantle of Bill Monroe among deadheads and introduced a like Peter Rowan. He joined the new generation to bluegrass. Peter’s Bluegrass Boys in 1963 and the hallmark is a keening delivery fused two formed a unique musical bond with a preternatural bluesiness. He that birthed The Walls of Time, an also rides the winds of Tex Mex, enduring bluegrass classic. The Reggae and folk while staying late 1960s saw Rowan with the true to his singer-songwriter roots. psychedelic band Earth Opera and Where would the music be without in 1973 he co-founded Old and in Midnight Moonlight, Thirsty in the the Way with Jerry Garcia, David Rain, and Free Mexican Airforce?

Grisman, Vassar Clements and John We’re thrilled to have Panama Red Kahn. The group’s 1975 eponymous himself here at the 50th anniversary album became an instant classic of Rockygrass!

It’s Sunday afternoon. The sun is out (is it out? When we wrote this the sun was out). Anyways, we’ll bet anything that the g’Earls on stage are lookin’ sharp as broken glass.

This all-woman group consists of KC Groves on mandolin, Rayna Gellert on fiddle, Abigail Washburn on banjo, and Kristin Andreassen on guitar. A pair of striking releases on Rounder Records brought their take on stringband music to the pages of such influential outlets as Rolling Stone and the New

York Times. Joining the quartet on bass is honorary g’Earlfriend Erin Youngberg, who recorded on 2007’s Waterloo, Tennessee. They last graced the RockyGrass stage in 2014, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have them back again. With the help of their stellar discography and melodious vocals, they easily won over the hearts, voices, and feet of their adopted hometown of Lyons. And now they’re back to remind us exactly why they became such an immediate favorite.

Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mt. Boys were the second Big Bang of the bluegrass universe. Both alumni of Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs shared an indelible chemistry and set out on their own in 1948. They refined Monroe’s sound and added dobro to the music. The playing of Josh Graves later helped turn Jerry Douglas into a dobroist. Wanting to pay tribute, Douglas founded the Earls of Leicester in 2014 to recreate the magic of the original sextet. What transpired is a

group that not only delivers the sound, but also the spirit of the classic Flatt and Scruggs recordings of the 1950s and 60s. For those who weren’t around to hear the original band live, the Earl’s is as close as you’ll ever get. Along with Jerry, these are the specialists: Charlie Cushman (banjo), Johnny Warren (fiddle), Shawn Camp (lead vocal, guitar), Jeff White (mandolin) and Barry Bales (bass). Not only that, but they wear string ties and cool homburg hats! Sit. Stay. Listen.

Fiftieth annual rockygrass

Rocky Grass

HOT RIZE

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sunday 8:30-10:00

Artists

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

But in 1978 Dr. Banjo put together a bluegrass quartet and it turned out we needed to spend a lot more time in treatment. Hot Rize created a repertoire and sound so distinctive it has captured imaginations for two generations. Tim O’Brien’s effortless tenor and spring-loaded mandolin playing meshes perfectly with Nick Forster’s silky electric bass runs. Their unmistakable groove gave banjoist Pete Wernick and guitarist Charles

Sawtelle ample room to stretch boundaries. The true mark of Hot Rize’s musical revolution is heard at festival jam sessions across America, where “Nellie Kane,” “Just Like You,” and “Ninety-Nine Years” have become standards. Now with Bryan Sutton on guitar (the most accomplished and awarded acoustic guitarist of his generation), Hot Rize continues to break musical ground. They’re here to close out the 50th annual RockyGrass and for that, we are glad.

july 29th through 31st

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dates to remember Elephant Revival

32nd Annual

rocky mountain

folks festival

with special guest

Covenhoven

August 12-14, 2022

Saturday, August 20th

Friday passes still available!

A Mabon Celebration

the song school August 8-11, 2022

2023 tickets

on Planet Bluegrass September 16th,17th & 18th, 2022

Visit Bluegrass.com beginning in October for details on our upcoming events. Tickets for 2023 will go on sale between December and February.

Printed on FSC-certified 80# Neenah Conservation text a 100% post-consumer recycled fiber, made with 100% renewable energy.

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Fiftieth annual rockygrass

50th Annual

Telluride Bluegrass Festival June 15-18, 2023

RockyGrass Academy July 24-27, 2023 51st Annual

RockyGrass July 28-30, 2023

The Song School

August 7-10, 2023 33rd Annual

FSC

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival August 11-13, 2023